The Army Public Affairs Association is proud to announce retired Colonel Douglas R. Coffey is the 2023 recipient of the Joe Galloway Lifetime Achievement Award for his exceptional lifetime of accomplishments and contributions to the Army Public Affairs community.
The Joe Gallowav Lifetime Achievement Award is an annual award thaat recognizes a lifetime of sustained extraordinary support to the U.S. Army and to the Army Public Affairs community. The award is presented to a practitioner whose accomplishments broke new ground for Army Public Affairs, who gave selflessly to the community of practice, and who made major and lasting contributions to the profession.
“Colonel Coffey is the epitome of what this award is all about. His lifetime of dedication to Soldiers and their Families, and his passion for the profession and purpose of Army Public Affairs has few peers.” said Rebecca Wriggle, Army Public Affairs Association president. “Doug is one of our founding fathers, a tireless Army Public Affairs leader and advocate, and we are honored to recognize him with our highest association award.”
Throughout his nearly 30 years in support Army Public Affairs, Doug Coffey served in operational and staff public affairs positions from division to major command, to Army staff including serving as public affairs advisor to the Army Chief of Staff.
While assigned early in his career to the 2nd Infantry Division public affairs office, during the lead up to the Seoul Olympics, MAJ Coffey established a collegial relationship with NBC News whose network would be covering the games. With his forward-leaning approach to media relationships, he improved the Army’s ability to support the games, and the division’s public affairs relationship with NBC News even afterward.
LTC Coffey was hand-picked by the Secretary of the Army to be the Department of Defense spokesperson for the Army-led reconstruction effort in Kuwait, after the defeat of Iraqi forces. The team, involving elements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was tasked with the mission of rebuilding government offices, hospitals, schools, and the international airport.
Later, as advisor to the Army Chief of Staff, COL Coffey devised a media outreach plan that targeted the top 25 media markets integrated into the Chief’s travel plans.
As the lead miliary public affairs officer for President Clinton’s second Inauguration, Coffey began planning for DoD public affairs support to the Inaugural committee nearly a year prior to inauguration day with a small joint team that expanded to 43 additional staff from all services for the two weeks surrounding the inauguration. For the team’s efforts, the Public Relations Society of America awarded its highest level of recognition, a Silver Anvil.
Coffey was given the mission of managing a major media event involving accusations of sexual misconduct by the sergeant major of the Army in the midst of sensational media coverage of the Aberdeen sexual misconduct scandal. His experience and instincts about how to build trust with reporters in the most difficult of media environments ensured accurate and timely information did get reported and was available to the public.
As the first public affairs officer assigned to US Special Operations Command, responsible for all public affairs planning and guidance for TS/SCI Special Category exercises and operations, Coffey became the DoD expert in developing appropriate guidance for all special operations training exercises.
Coffey was also a co-founder of the Army Public Affairs Association (APAA) in 2009, serving as President, Chairman and as a member of the APAA’s Senior Advisory Council. During his 14-year tenure on APAA’s Board of Directors, Coffey was responsible for establishing the Joe Galloway and Marcia J. Triggs’ awards in addition to helping move the association from a networking group to a professional development and thought leader organization. He led partnerships with the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs and industry groups including establishing sponsorship with three major organizations that made the association financially stable through donations. The donations and partnerships moved the organization from a $6,000 deficit to annual sustaining budget of more than $50,000. His business acumen, political savvy and influence has transformed the association over its existence.
Throughout his military career and life in retirement, Mr. Coffey has made a positive impact of the Army Public Affairs Community and exhibits the expertise, knowledge and character and spirit of the Joe Galloway.
“Doug served a lifetime of selfless service to our Army and to our nation, on some of the most complex public affairs missions any organization can face,” Wriggle added. “He continued to serve our Army Public Affairs family and community for more than a dozen years after retiring building an association of passionate professionals that endures for the future. On behalf of our entire Board of Directors and the membership of the association Doug founded, we offer our very sincere gratitude and heartfelt congratulations.”
COL Coffey will receive his award at a reception Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C.